Screw driver



May 27 F. F. KENDALL SCREWDRIVER Filed Aug. 9, 192.2

Patente ay 27, 124,

FRED F, KENDALL, OF AMESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

SCREW DRIVER.

Application filed August 9, 1922. Serial No. 580,775.

T 0 all whom it may concern: Be it known that FRED F. KENDALL, a citizen of the United States. residing at Amesbury. in the county of Essex and State of will readily take screws without the general possibility of slippingoif the head of the same; that will have a ratchet effect of simple construction; and which also will have an adjustment feature that enables the screw-drixer to be used at an angle with respect to the head of the screw. And other objects that will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

The screw-driver embodying this invention has the general design-of a screw-driver of conventional form, and in addition has the butt of thehandle loose on a central pin that enables the butt to revolve freely in the axis of the screw-driver. The butt I so arranged permits the screw-driver to be operated as a ratchet. The point of the screw-driver has a separable piece that is pivoted on the shank; of the screw-driver and enables the point to adjust itself into the slot of the screw head even,if the screw-. driver is held at an angle. The point is protected by a sleeve that guides the point of the screw driver to the head of thescrew and also prevents the point piece from slipping out of the slot. A spring actuating the sleeve serves to keep the latter resiliently in place.

All these parts cooperate to enable the screw-driver 'to do its work effectively.

In the drawings which illustrate by way of example an embodiment of this invention:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a modification of the screw-driver.

Figure 2'is a sectional detail of the point of the shank of the screw-driver.

Figure 3 is a detail of the screw driver oint showing its general construction more in detail.

Figure 1 is a detail of the butt of the handle of the r screw driver showing its ratchet action.

Figure 5 is a detail of the shank removed from the handle and adapted for use in any conventional. form of handle or brace or other general operating means.

Similar reference characters refer to-similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction 1 represents a screw driver having a handle 2 that is provided with a false butt 3 that rotates on a pin 4 axially disposed in the handle end. A shank 5 is inserted in the handle and is held securely there in any conventional way. In the drawings the handle end of the shank is provided with a part 6 that will fit into the handle, and be locked against rotation, this 7 part 6 being also adaptable for being held in a brace a wrench or other means for actuating the shank of the screwdriver. The

is provided with a bell like form with its mouth enlarged.

The enlargement is arranged to permit the bit 7 to assume a slant to its maximum without; a portion of the sides of the sleeve restricting same prematurely. The bit 7 consists of a fiat piece having a hole in it near its upper portion adapted to set on the pivot indicated in the end portion of the shank. It has sides that flare out, sli htly with a chamfer cutting inwardlyas s own in the drawings. The upper. portion is slightly rounded so .as' to permit the bit to rock on the bottom of the slot in the shank in which it is pivoted. These features enable the bit to adjust itself readily to the slot inthe screw even though the shank and handle of the screwdriver may be tilted to an angle with respect to the slot.

The sleeve is. resiliently arranged on the shank by reason of a spring 10 connected to the shank and pressing downwardly on the sleeve, and the sleeve is kept from slipping off the shank end by the bit 7 which is just largeenou h to act as a stop for the same.

In use, t e screw driver has its bit 7 intion of a ratchet. The spring on the sleeve keeps the sleeve properly in place without 5 interfering with the positionof the screw head or the screwing ofthe same into place.

While but one form of. this invention is shown in the drawings, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to. this particular form, nor in any other way, otherwise than limited by the prior art, as other constructions could be used that would employ' the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claim. 1

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

meaeoe a shank, a sleeve 0 loosely mounted on the end portion thereof,

a's'pring secured to the shank and the sleeve for normally disposing the sleeve over the end portion of the shank, in a resilient manner, a flat screwdriver bit mounted on the end of the shank and within the sleeve and adapted to pivotally' move thereon.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. FRED F. KENDALL.

Witnesses:

' LAURA BA'rrre,

BERTHA S. TUxBUnY. 

